I was moving my chopsticks half-obligatorily to fill my stomach when a sweet pumpkin tempura was placed in my udon bowl.
“I’m specially giving you one.”
Kang Subin, who was sitting next to me, said with a magnanimous attitude.
“Eat this and let’s become close again. You don’t know how big a deal it is for me to yield this!”
No, I know. I know what a tremendous favor it is for a guy with a good appetite to yield his portion of food, and even readily give up his favorite food.
“Thanks.”
After eating what he gave me and trying to pick up noodles, another piece of tempura entered my vision. This time it was shrimp tempura.
“Didn’t you say we’d become close again after I ate that earlier?”
“This is a bribe.”
“A bribe?”
Kang Subin’s eyes, which I glanced at, were sparkling so brightly it was burdensome.
“Um, could I ask you for the actor’s autograph?”
“……Actor Seo Nakil?”
“Yes.”
He continued cautiously.
“I know it might be rude to ask something like this. He’s such a famous person, maybe he’s heard countless requests like this. That’s probably why you kept it secret from us too, but still……”
Kang Subin said earnestly.
“I’m a really long-time fan. Of course I’ve watched his entire filmography, and I’ve watched my favorite works dozens of times. I’m waiting all day just for his next work. I want to at least see a real autograph. Please!”
After swallowing what was in my mouth, I answered.
“I’ll try asking when I see him next time. But don’t get your hopes up too much since it might not work out.”
“I’d be grateful even if you just bring it up. But why might it not work? Are you not that close?”
Min Seungwoo across from us was looking at us, or more precisely at me, with a look that said that couldn’t be. I pretended not to notice that gaze and smoothly turned my eyes away.
On the way back to the company building after finishing our meal, something occurred to me and I called out to Kang Subin.
“Subin. Earlier you said you wanted to at least see the actor’s real autograph.”
“I did, right? Why? Do you have an autograph, hyung?”
“Not that, but…… do you like gukbap?”
“Is there a Korean who doesn’t like gukbap? I can’t eat it because there isn’t any, really.”
“There’s a gukbap restaurant I went to recently, and I heard he left an autograph there. Let’s go together next time.”
“Wow. Really? Wow. Really wow……”
Kang Subin, who had been looking at me with both hands covering his mouth, suddenly hugged my waist. The force running at me from behind was so strong that my body, unable to withstand the momentum, tilted forward.
“This is really amazing! Ijae hyung, you’re my lucky fairy!”
No, it’s not even an autograph I got. Wouldn’t it have been known among fans anyway? I just said let’s go together if it really doesn’t work out. I just suggested eating a meal together, so he didn’t need to be that grateful to me.
Even while thinking that, I couldn’t say anything to Kang Subin. Even though his arms around my waist wouldn’t let go and he kept dangling there the whole time, I didn’t shake him off.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve been close with the members like this.’
Even knowing that the more moments we spent being friendly, the greater the regret would be later, I wanted to just stay silent and pretend not to know anything for now.
Waddling along like that, with Kang Subin hanging on, we had just arrived at the company building.
“Huh?”
Kang Subin, who was grabbed by the scruff of his neck and separated in an instant, made a surprised sound.
“What, suddenly?”
“What do you mean? You’re the one—what are you doing?”
It was a familiar voice. But not a welcome one. Because it was Kwon Seonho.
“Don’t stick to him. Han Ijae is mine.”
“Oh please. Do you think I’ll just separate obediently if you say that?”
Even while saying that, Kang Subin quietly separated, not wanting me to be caught in the middle and put in a difficult position. I secretly swallowed my disappointment and read Kwon Seonho’s mood.
‘He said he had a personal schedule, so he must be on his way back.’
His clothes were similar to usual, but there was still makeup on his face. Perhaps because of that, Kwon Seonho’s characteristic light and sharp impression stood out.
When I looked at Kwon Seonho with an awkward expression, he raised his eyebrows crookedly. His displeasure was blatantly apparent.
“Han Ijae. Let’s talk for a bit.”
I had nothing to talk about with Kwon Seonho. Of course, you don’t need to have business to have a conversation, but with our relationship twisted in various ways now, meeting him alone was burdensome.
Fortunately, before I could say anything, Min Seungwoo stepped forward.
“No. Ijae and Subin need to go in and finish practicing choreography.”
“Weren’t you on your way back from eating? Why would you practice right away? You do it while resting.”
Despite the openly annoyed attitude, Min Seungwoo didn’t back down.
“The solo concert is in just two months. If you take it easy, when will you memorize the choreography and when will you refine the vocals?”
Actually, he could have allowed it for just a moment, but it seemed he was interfering because he thought I would only hear unpleasant things if I talked separately with Kwon Seonho anyway.
“If you have something to say, say it at the dorm.”
“Are you really going to stake your life on the concert at this rate?”
Then Min Seungwoo asked back with a faint smile.
“Aren’t you going to? It’s your first concert in your life.”
“……”
“If you’re not going to stake your life on the stage, why are you even an idol?”
“This bastard……”
“Now, now. Let’s not do this here! Seonho hyung, do you want to come in with us too?”
Kwon Seonho clicked his tongue and replied.
“I have a salon appointment, so I have to leave in an hour. You work hard.”
“Yes! I’ll work hard!”
“Han Ijae.”
I was being pushed into the company building pretending to be unable to resist Kang Subin’s urging, when I heard Kwon Seonho’s voice calling me from behind.
“Let’s talk at home.”
We happened to share the same dorm, so there was no way to avoid it. I inwardly prayed that Kwon Seonho’s afternoon schedule would end very late. I hoped that at least I’d have enough leeway to lock my door and pretend to be asleep when I got back.
* * *
The wish I made at noon didn’t come true, but I was able to prevent an uncomfortable private meeting with Kwon Seonho. The moment I ran into him blocking my room with no way out, my phone in my hand vibrated and flashed brightly.
– Are you busy?
“No.”
I quickly answered the phone after slipping past him into my room. Today too, Seo Nakil’s timing was good.
“I was just late cleaning up something for a moment.”
– All cleaned up?
“Thanks to you.”
Even though I only spoke ambiguously, Seo Nakil seemed to understand what I wanted to say. The sound of him laughing quietly settled pleasantly in my ears.
– I was worried you might not be very happy to hear from me since I haven’t contacted you much, but I guess I was worrying for nothing.
“That’s……”
Since I was practicing mainly focused on choreography, and it wasn’t just me alone but Min Seungwoo or Kang Subin constantly with me, I didn’t have time to look at my phone. Once we practiced, two or three hours flew by, so I couldn’t help but be late in responding to Seo Nakil’s messages every time.
I made excuses in a crawling voice.
“It’s because I’m busy. It’s not because I don’t want to reply or find it bothersome.”
– I know.
Seo Nakil replied in a gentle voice.
– I think I can tell just by hearing your voice now.
“……”
– Do you practice on weekends too?
“No. I think I’ll rest on weekends.”
Min Seungwoo happened to say he had a schedule. Even if that weren’t the case, he explained that since it hadn’t been long since I was discharged, I shouldn’t overdo it and should rest on weekends. Instead, I’d have to work harder on weekdays.
– That works out well. Make some time for me.
“I will. Should I come to the penthouse?”
– Mm, not there.
I thought he would answer right away, but surprisingly, Seo Nakil hesitated for a moment.
– Let’s meet outside.
“……”
– I want to arrange a meal with CEO Seon, would that be difficult?
As I just listened silently, his voice became a bit more cautious.
– There’s this Cosmos matter, and I want to meet to discuss future activities as well. Of course, as I mentioned before, I also hope you’ll transfer your exclusive contract to this side.
That makes sense. CEO Seon would want me to transfer to his agency after I finish Starium activities. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered to help me.
– He’s a clean person as an agency CEO, but before that, he’s also my person. So I’m thinking of stepping forward.
Of course, I wasn’t very keen on it. Even though I knew I should meet and greet him in person since he was someone I was grateful to, I strongly wanted to avoid meeting entertainment industry people as much as possible.
But Seo Nakil seemed to want to push through with his intention somehow. That also meant he cared that much about CEO Seon.
– I don’t want to make bothersome requests if I can help it, but if it’s really difficult, I’ll even use the second wish……
“No.”
Those words snapped me to attention.
He was someone I had to meet anyway. He wasn’t someone who harmed me, but rather the opposite—he helped me. Thinking realistically, meeting him was right, and in fact, I should have been the one to suggest meeting first.
I didn’t want to make him use a wish just to indulge me, not even a little bit. I didn’t want to be that ungrateful.
“I’ll meet him.”
After a slight silence, Seo Nakil asked.
– Will you be okay?
